Issue - meetings

To present the findings from the HRA stock condition surveys (report of the Assistant Director – Housing enclosed).

To present the findings from the HRA stock condition surveys (report of the Assistant Director – Housing enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Assistant Director – Housing which presented the findings from the HRA stock condition surveys.

The Head of Housing Investment and Development presented the report.

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) mandated through the Consumer Standards that Registered Providers must have an accurate, up to date and evidenced understanding of the condition of their homes.  The data must be used to ensure the provision of good quality, well maintained and safe homes for tenants.

To date, 90.33% of the HRA stock had been surveyed and the surveys had taken place between October 2024 and January 2026 (the data from these formed the basis of the report), but since then efforts were still being made to access more properties and numbers would therefore have increased slightly.  The target to survey 100% of stock was still retained

The surveys had provided a vast amount of primary data which had been interrogated and analysed and had already been used to inform future strategies and planned investment programmes.

A continuous programme of property surveys would be in place to ensure data remained up to date.

At the point of writing the report, 3,467 homes had had a full survey.  The surveys included a full condition survey, Decent Homes assessment, Housing Health and Safety Rating System survey (HHSRS) and, where necessary, an energy assessment where an EPC certificate was due.

The report included a table at section 3.1 showing Survey Representation by Location, and a table at section 3.2 showing Survey Representation by Archetype.

Detailed analysis of the survey findings was provided at Appendix 1.  It indicated that most components (55%) were achieving their expected lifespan with only 1.1% requiring replacement earlier.  44% of components were expected to surpass their expected lifespan.  The results also indicated that property type and location did not affect component wear or life expectancy.

The survey assessed for Decent Homes compliance, hazards and energy assessments.

The information had been used to inform the HRA Business Plan and Asset Management Strategy approved by Council in January 2026.  The plan determined that the Housing Revenue Account was sustainable over the 30-year period based on the assumptions regarding future costs.

The 2026/27 property specific planned improvements programme was being developed using the latest stock condition data to ensure investment was targeted appropriately.

The Regulator required the Authority to keep its records up to date and it would therefore continue to survey its stock.  The Regulators Code of Practice advised that providers should have a five-year rolling programme of stock condition surveys, some needed more frequent surveys.  The regularity of surveys would be determined from information received around areas such as regularity of repairs requests or recurring problems at properties.

A new contractor to undertake the surveys would be identified during 2026 as the current contract was coming to an end.

Detailed analysis of the stock condition survey was provided within Appendix A to the report.

Members considered the report and the following points were raised:

·       Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73